A train driver jailed for killing five passengers 18 years ago said the crash still haunts him as his conviction was quashed yesterday.

Bob Morgan, 64, said: "I will never, ever forget what happened that day and wish I could turn the clock back.

"My thoughts remain with those who lost their loved ones, and they always will. I do feel responsible."

But relatives of those who died when he went through a red light and smashed into the back of another train in Purley, Surrey, condemned yesterday's decision.

Carol Clark, who lost husband Colin, 55, said: "This is a travesty of justice. Nobody has said sorry.

"My children have not had a dad and I have had to bring them up on my own."

Three Court of Appeal judges ruled the conviction unsafe after new evidence showed other drivers had missed the red signal four times before the crash in which 80 people were hurt in March 1989 - and once after, before safety was improved.

Mr Morgan, who told detectives he could not remember the smash, was advised by his legal team to admit manslaughter.

He was sentenced to 18 months in prison - 12 months suspended. His term was cut to four months on appeal and he served two.

Lord Justice Latham told the appeal court: "Clearly, something about the infrastructure of this particular junction was causing mistakes to be made. This was an accident waiting to happen."

Mr Morgan, of Ferring, West Sussex, said: "The fact is it does not matter who was driving the train that day, the same thing would have happened.

"I am pleased that my conviction is quashed and my name is finally cleared. I bore this incident on my shoulders for 18 years and think about what happened every day.

"Now that the evidence points to the signal, and not me, I feel it's right that I have been cleared."